The FIRST POINT. The great and dangerous Evil, of which the Apo­stle gives Notice to the Church of Believers; and that is, the going out of false Prophets into the World.

AND here it is to be noted, that from the very Beginning of the World, there have been two Seeds or Generations of Men, very contrary the one to the other; as is evident in Genesis iii. 15. where God saith to the Serpent, I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman, and between thy Seed and her Seed; so that the Serpent hath his Seed, as well as the Woman her Seed; and this was the Woman's Curse, to have her Sorrows and Conceptions multiplied, and to bring forth the Serpent's Seed, as well as her own, that is, the Children or Seed of the first Blessing; and both these contrary Seeds do partake of one and the same common Nature, or Humanity. And one of these Seeds are called, The Sons of God; the other, The Sons of Men, Genesis vi. 6. And both these, being the Children of one Adam, ac­cording [Page 6]to the Flesh, are yet distinguished by se­veral Spirits, that dwell in them, and inspire them: For the Spirit of God, that is, the Spirit of Righteousness and Truth, doth inspire the one, and these are truly called the Children of God, as Paul saith, Romans viii. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. And the Spirit of Satan, which is the Spirit of Wic­kedness and Error, doth inspire the other; and these are truly called, the Sons of Men, who all have sinned, and are deprived of the Glory of God.

Now these two different and contrary Spirits, which have dwelt in these two distinct Seeds, have begun to act presently from the very Begin­ning of the World, each one according to its own Nature, and to trade and traffick about Mankind, and out of it, to bring forth Children to themselves, like to themselves in all Things; and so one hath endeavoured to beget and bring forth the Children of God, and of Truth; the other, the Children of Men, and of Error: And to this End, the one hath held forth the Truth of God, by the true Spirit of God; the other hath held forth Error and Falshood, yet as it were the Truth: The one hath endeavoured to bring Man unto God, through true Faith and Repentance; the other to turn Men from God, through Sin: The one hath sought to work Sal­vation in Men, the other Destruction.

Now the false Spirit hath been the most com­mon in the World, and hath had the greatest Opportunities and Advantages to multiply itself, [Page 7]seeing it finds the whole World already lying in Wickedness, and fully prepared to receive itself. But the true Spirit hath been found in very Few, and that from the Beginning; for there have been but few true Prophets, who have had the true Spirit, and have spoken the true Word; as you may see all along in Scriptures, especially in the Times of Elijah and Micajah, but Christ saith, many false Prophets shall arise, and deceive many; and Peter saith in his second Epistle, Chapter ii. Verses 1, 2. That as there were false Prophets a­mong the People, that is, the Jews, so there shall be false Doctors and Teachers among the Christians, who should privily bring in damnable Heresies; and that many should follow their pernicious Ways.

So that as there have been many false Pro­phets from the Beginning, so especially in the Days of the New-Testament; for the more Christ hath appeared by his spirit to lead Men in­to Truth, the more hath the Devil appeared by his Spirit to lead Men into Error; and this is pro­perly called Anti-christ; For Flesh and Blood is not Anti-christ; but a Spirit contrary to Christ's Spirit, that dwells in Flesh and Blood, and chief­ly among those that profess the Christian Reli­gion; this is Anti-christ.

No Spirit, in the Jews or Gentiles, is proper­ly called Anti-christ, but the Spirit of Satan in false Christians, appearing as an Angel of Light, this is Anti-christ. Before Christ came in the Flesh, the Devil was an evil Spirit, and a Liar, and a Murderer, and the unclean Spirit, and Prince of this World; but he was not properly Anti-christ, [Page 8]because Christ was not then come in the Flesh. The Devil was the Devil before, and did dwell and work in evil Men; but from the Beginning of the Christian Church, he is called Anti-christ, and that not every where, but in the Church or Kingdom of Christ: For Anti-christ is a Spirit that dissolves Jesus, and that not openly, but sub­tilly and cunningly, yea, under the Name and Pretence of Jesus, he is wholly contrary to him. Wherefore, the discerning of Spirits, as it hath been necessary from the Beginning of the World, so also it is especially necessary in the Days of the Gospel, wherein the Mystery of Iniquity is be­come most mysterious, through the Operation of Anti-christ, in those many false Prophets which are gone forth into the World. And so we proceed to the second Point.

The SECOND POINT.

And that is this, That sufficient Remedy, which the Apostle prescribes to the true Church, against that great Evil of many false Prophets being gone out into the World.

Now the Remedy the Apostle prescribes to the Faithful against these false Prophets, is not that they should stir up the secular Power to im­prison, banish or burn them, that so they might be rid of them; for this is Anti-christ's proper Remedy against those that oppose him; but the Apostle shews a more Christian Remedy, which is this, Believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits, whether they be of God; and this Remedy alone is sufficient for the true spiritual Church of the [Page 9]Faithful in every Age, to preserve it safe and sound against all false Teachers whatsoever, and their false Doctrines; neither doth it desire or need any other. Wherefore in this Case the Apostle contents himself to give only this Caution to the Faithful, Believe not every Spirit, but try the Spi­rits, whether they be of God.

Believe not every Spirit, &c. That is, every one that speaketh of spiritual Things. Whence it is plain, that we neither ought rashly and h [...]ly to believe every Man's Doctrine, nor yet rashly and unadvisedly to censure and condemn it, till it be heard and known what it is: But it is a Christian's Duty to prove all Things, and to hold fast that which is Good, upon Proof, as Paul ad­viseth; wherefore John also adds here, But try the Spirits, whether they be of God.

Whence we note, That Christians have Right and Power to try and judge the Spirits and Doc­trines of their Teachers: And this is evident by many plain Scriptures; as,

Matthew vii. 15. Beware of false Prophets (saith Christ to the Faithful) which come unto you in Sheeps Clothing, but inwardly they are ravening Wolves; ye shall know them by their Fruits.

Matthew xvi. 6. Jesus said unto them, take heed and beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees, which is Hypocrisy.

Matthew xvi. 4. Jesus said, take heed that no no Man deceive you, for many shall come in my Name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.

[Page 10] John x. My Sheep hear my Voice, and know my Voice, and a Stranger will they not hear, but flee from him, for they know not (that is, own not) the Voice of Strangers. And all that came before me are Thieves and Robbers, but the Sheep did not hear them.

By all which Scriptures, and many more that might be added, it is manifest that the Faithful, the true Sheep of Christ, have Right and Power to judge of the Spirit and Doctrines of the Teachers.

Let Fathers, Schoolmen, Doctors, Councils, Assemblies of Divines, Universities, Ministers, propound and publish what Doctrine they please, the Sheep of Christ, the faithful Flock, have Power and Authority from Christ himself to try and judge, whether the Things they speak be of Christ, or of themselves, and of Anti-christ. And this Power the faithful People ought not to part with, neither for any Fear, nor for any Favour.

Yea, it most nearly concerns the Faithful to try the Spirits, and judge the Doctrines of the Teachers, for these two Considerations, among others.

First, Because we must each one give an Ac­count for ourselves before the Judgment Seat of Christ: Wherefore it concerns every one of us to look to our own eternal Condition, and not to leave this Care to others for us. In Death and Judgment, each one must answer for himself; and therefore we ought to be as certain of the Word of God, on which we build our immortal Souls, as we are sure we live, and are Creatures; [Page 11]we ought, I say, to be sure ourselves, and not to trust any Body for us in this great Matter, whereon depends either eternal Life, or eternal Death.

Secondly, It concerns us to try the Spirits and Doctrines, because otherwise we may easily mi­stake, and instead of Anti-christ, and his Disciples, dash against Christ himself, and his precious Saints. Yea, we have seen how the World, and worldly Church, not being able to try the Spirits and Doctrines, have contradicted and crucified the Son of God himself, and have reproached and persecuted all his People, who are baptized into one Spirit with him; and doing this, they have thought they have done God good Service too; and all because they were not able to judge of the Spirit and Truth of Christ in himself and his Members, but have followed the Judgment and Counsel of the chief Guides in the outward Church, who have caused them to err, and to mistake Truth for Error, and Error for Truth, Christ for Anti-christ, and Anti-christ for Christ.

Wherefore it concerns every one to be wise to Salvation for himself, and to try the Spirits for himself, and not to content himself to say; thus said Augustine, Ambrose, Hierom, &c. or this was the Judgment of the Fathers, or thus have the Councils or Universities determined, or thus do our Ministers teach us; but if thou art one of Christ's Flock, thou must have Skill to know and judge for thyself, which is Christ's Spirit and Doctrine, and which is Anti-christ's; other­wise thou wilt certainly miscarry in this great [Page 12]Matter, and be undone for ever. If thou build on Men in these Things, and canst not judge for thyself, thou wilt be sure to be undone.

But now this Power of trying Spirits, and judg­ing Doctrines, which Christ hath given his true Flock, and which they ought to have upon so good Grounds, the Teachers of the false and Anti-christian Church, that is, the common Cler­gy, distinguished by several Names, Titles, and Degrees, have robbed them of, and have falsly and treacherously arrogated to themselves the Power of trying Spirits, and judging Doctrines, and have said, that it belongs to the Clergy, or national Ministry, and their Councils, and Assem­blies of Divines, to judge of Spirits, whether they be right or false; and to judge of Doctrines, whether they be agreeable to God's Word, or no; and that all Christians ought to expect their Judgment and Determination, and to submit to it, and to depend on it, as on an Oracle from Heaven, yea, though it be not only without, but also against their own particular Judgment.

And these Men (I mean the Clergy) through the ecclesiastical and temporal Power which they had gotten, have stricken great Fear into the whole World, and have miserably vexed innu­merable Consciences with a grievous and lasting Bondage, and have even driven them to Despair, whilst none durst approve or own any Spirit or Doctrine, though never so manifestly of Christ and his Gospel, without their Allowance and Ap­probation; so mightily hath the Power of Anti-christ [Page 13]prevailed in the World, and that against the express Word of Christ.

Now the Ground of this their anti-christian Pride and Usurpation is this, that they arrogate to themselves, that they are the Guides and Shep­herds of all Christian Men, and are to teach them the Gospel, which they are only to receive from their Lips; whereas Christ hath promised his true Church, that they shall be all taught of God, and shall hear and learn themselves from the Fa­ther, and hath also promised to send them the Spirit, to lead them in all Truth, and to give them an Anointing, to teach them all Things.

Now they, by robbing the Faithful of this Pow­er, and arrogating it to themselves, have made themselves, contrary to Christ's Command, Lords and Masters in the Church of God, and have usurped to themselves Superiority and Authority over other Believers, and have subjected all the World to their Opinion and Judgment in the Things of God; by which Means, they have set wide open the Flood-gates to Anti-christ, and his Kingdom, to break in upon the World, and to overflow it, whilst they had robbed all Christian People of their own Judgment in all Things of God, and had made them to depend wholly on the Judgment of the Clergy.

And had not Christian People thus unchristianly delivered up their Judgments to the Clergy, and that in the very highest Points of Religion, Chri­stianity had not been so miserably blinded and cor­rupted as it is, and the Mystery of Iniquity had not so much prevailed in the World, as now it [Page 14]hath. For when Christians would not try the Spirits, whether they were of God, and the Doc­trines, whether they were the Word of God or no, but thought this a Matter too high for them, and would refer and submit all to the Judgment of their Ministers; then Anti-christ (the Apostle of the Devil) came forth boldly, and proudly ex­alted himself above all that is called God, and his Kingdom, above all the Kingdoms of the World, having first put out both the Eyes of Christians, by taking away from them their Right and Power of trying Spirits, and judging Doc­trines.

But when true Christians shall search the Scrip­tures (as God I trust hath now fully put into their Hearts to do) and shall justly and lawfully take to themselves the Power which God hath given them, to try Spirits and Doctrines, then Anti-christ, and his Agents, the carnal Clergy, must soon be brought down: For the Faithful, by that Word, shall soon perceive that they are not of God, nor their Doctrine of that right Gospel, which is after the Mind of Christ.

Well then, by what hath been said, you who are of Christ's true Sheep may perceive, that it is evident by the Word, that faithful Christians have Right and Power to try Spirits and Doctrines, though Anti-christ, for many Ages, hath robbed them of this Privilege.

For (that I may speak a little more to this Matter) the Trial of Spirits doth unquestiona­bly belong to all Men, who have received the Spirit of God: For to this Spirit of God which [Page 15]dwells in the Faithful, the Gift of discerning Spirits is inseparably annexed: And the Spirit of Christ, which truly dwells in all true Christians, cannot deceive, nor be deceived in the Trial of Spirits. So that this now is a common Grace, that in some Measure belongs to all true Christi­ans, who have received the Unction that teach­eth them all Things, and is true, and is no Lye.

And though there be in the Church Diversities of Gifts from the same Spirit, which are given to some, and not to others, as Tongues, and In­terpretation of Tongues, and Miracles, and Gifts of healing, &c. mentioned by Paul, I Cor. xii. yet this Gift of trying Spirits is given to all, in some Measure, that have received the Spirit. For as in the natural Body there are several Gifts given to several Members, which are no given to all the Members, as Seeing to the Eye. Hear­ing to the Ear, Walking to the Foot, &c. but Feeling is given to all the Members; so also in the Body of Christ, that is, the spiritual Church, several Gifts are given to several Saints, but the Trial of Spirits and Doctrines to Saints, who have received the Spirit; and if any have not Christ's Spirit, he is none of his; and if any have not Christ's Spirit, he can, in some Measure, discern and judge of all Spirits in the World: And the more any Man receives Christ's Spirit, the more able is he to judge of all other Spirits.

Wherefore they who are true Believers, and have received Christ's Spirit, their Judgment is to be preferred in the Trial of Spirits, before the Judgment of a whole Council of Clergymen.

[Page 16] And they only, who can try Spirits by the Spi­rit of God, and Doctrines by the Word of God, written in their Hearts by the Spirit, and fit to commend Ministers to the Work of God: That is, the Congregations of the Faithful, and not Universities, and Assemblies of Divines.

And thus you may perceive that, seeing many false Prophets are gone out into the World, it con­cerns the Faithful, as they tender their own ever­lasting Salvation, not to believe every Spirit that speaks of Christ, and his Kingdom, and his Things, but to try the Spirits, whether they be of God.

Object. But now (it may be) some will be rea­dy to say, we ought indeed to try the Spirits, seeing there are many false Prophets in the World, but we hope there are no such Persons among us, but only some up-start Men, with their new Light, who with their Novelties and Fancies trouble the Nation, and would fain turn all Things Up-side down, and we know these well enough already, and do sufficiently despise them.

Answ. It is very like you do; but yet let me say to you, Men, Brethren, and Fathers, un­derstand yourselves, and know what ye do in this Matter. For at the Beginning of the Re­formation by the Ministry of Luther, Zuinglius, Calvin, and divers others, precious Servants of Jesus Christ, the Popish Clergy applied all these Scriptures, Try the Spirits, whether they be of God, for many false Prophets are gone out into the World; and beware of false Prophets, which come to you in Sheeps Clothing, but inwardly are ravening Wolves; [Page 17]I say, these, and the like Places of Scriptures, they applied to these godly Men, and yet they themselves were the false Prophets indeed, and the others, whom they termed such, were true Ones. Wherefore it is possible for you to be mi­staken as well as they, and no Doubt but you will be mistaken, except the Lord be gracious to you, and give you his own Spirit, by which alone you can make a right Judgment in this Matter.

Wherefore, that he that reads may under­stand, you must know, that the false Prophets are not so easily discerned as you think; for they seem to be true Prophets, and godly, holy, learned, orthodox Men, Men of Eminency and Renown in the Church and State: And so to Flesh and Blood, and the Wisdom and Religion of the World, it will be a difficult, yea, and impossible Thing to find them out: For the false Prophets have several glorious Vails over them, to hide and obscure them from common Knowledge.

Wherefore we declare unto you from the Word of the Lord, touching these false Prophets, who shall do so much Mischief.

• 1. That they shall not proceed, or come forth from among the Jews, or Turks, or out of the barbarous Nations, but they shall arise out of such as are called Christians.
• 2. Seeing among Christians some are openly prophane and evil, others seem to be religious and godly, the false Prophets shall be found among the better Sort; and therefore, saith Christ, they shall come in Sheeps Clothing, as if they were of Christ's own Flock: And Paul saith, [Page 18] They have a Form of Godliness, that is, they shall be painted over gloriously, with all Appearances of Truth, Righteousness, Honesty, Goodness; and all the Names of Godliness.
• 3. Seeing amongst those that seem to be the better Sort of Christians, some give themselves to the Ministry of the Word, and some do not; the false Prophets shall be found among those Christians, who take upon themselves to be Preachers, as Paul testifies, Acts xx. where hav­ing called together the Elders and Teachers of the Church of Ephesus, he saith to them, Ex vo­his ipsis; Out of your ownselves shall Men arise, speaking perverse Things, to draw away Disciples after them.

And seeing among those who are Ministers, some are light, and vain, and carnal, and formal Persons, and others are Men of great Worth and Reputation, and seem to be the precious Members of Christ, and even Pillars in the Church, so that the common People think, that all Religion would go down with such good Men, they hav­ing some Gifts and Enlightenings of the Spirit, and seeming more than ordinarily godly, religi­ous, wise, holy, sober, devour; now the false Prophets shall be found among these. And as they who opposed Christ at his first coming in the Flesh, seemed more wise, and holy, and emi­nent in the Church than the rest, as the Scribes and Pharisees, who sat in Moses's Chair, and had the outward Letter of the Word in all Exactness, and the outward Form of Religion in all Strict­ness; so they, who do, and shall most oppose [Page 19]Christ in his coming in his Spirit, and shall con­tradict his Word, and resist his Servants and Witnesses of his Truth, do, and shall appear more wise, holy, learned, and godly, than the rest of the Teachers of the Church.

And thus you see, that the false Prophets of Anti-christ shall arise among Christians, and a­mong such Christians as seem to be godly; and among such seeming godly Christians as preach the Word; and among such Preachers of the Word as seem to be of greater Worth and Emi­nency than the rest: And so in all these Regards it will be a hard Matter to discern them.

2. Again, such Persons, of such Appearance of Worth and Holiness as these, do usually get to their Side the greatest and highest Persons in the Kingdoms and Nations, and do obtain, not only their Countenance and Favour, but also their Power and Authority for themselves.

3. By both these Means ( viz. their seeming Holiness, and their Interest with worldly Powers) they exceedingly enlarge their Credit and Repu­tation with the World, and do get Multitudes of People and Nations to entertain them.

For Anti-christ could not deceive the World with a Company of foolish, weak, ignorant, pro­phane, contemptible Persons, but he always hath the greatest, wisest, holiest, and most eminent in the visible Church for him, and by these he sed­uces and subjects to himself even the whole World.

Besides, they that are against him, and his false Prophets, are but a very Handful of Saints, [Page 20]who have the Spirit of Christ, and through his Spirit discern them, and oppose them; and for so doing are despised and hated of all the World.

Wherefore it is a harder Matter to try these false Prophets than we are well aware of. And yet, as hard as it is, the Apostle, by the Spirit, hath given us a manifest and certain Rule of Trial: And this is the third general Thing I named.

The THIRD POINT.

To wit, The sufficient Rule, whereby the true Church may thoroughly try the Spirits and Prophets, how cunningly and subtilly soever they are disguis­ed; and this he lays down, Verse 3.

Hereby know we the Spirit of God; every Spi­rit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh, is of God. And every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh, is not of God, &c.

Now this Scripture we may understand two Ways.

• 1. Of a right Knowledge of Jesus Christ in his own Person.
• 2. Of a true Receiving of this Christ into us by Faith.

First. Of the right Knowledge of Christ in his own Person.

1. For whereas he saith, Every Spirit that con­fesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh, &c. This gives us to understand, that he is true God, and was before he came into the Flesh.

[Page 21] 2. Whereas he saith, Every Spirit that con­fesseth that Christ is come in the Flesh; this gives us to understand, that he is true Man, our very Brother, Partaker of the same Flesh and Blood with us.

3. Whereas he saith, Every Spirit that con­fesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh, &c.

This also gives us to understand, that in him, true God and true Man are united into one inse­parable Person.

4. Whereas he saith, Every Spirit that con­fesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh, &c. This gives us Occasion to consider the End of his Coming; seeing God did not become Man in vain, or for some slight Cause, but that he might redeem unto God, all those whom the Father had elected in him, and save them perfectly from the Law, Sin, Death and Hell: And hence we may rise up to conceive of his Offices, viz. of his Priestly, Prophetical and Kingly Office, and of the infinite Virtue and Efficacy of them.

Now he that makes this Confession of Jesus Christ, from the Revelation of the Father, is of God; and he that speaks otherwise, is not of God.

2. But secondly, We may understand this Scripture, not only of the true Knowledge of Jesus Christ, but also and especially of the true Receiving of him by Faith: Every Spirit (saith he) that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh, is of God; that is, he is of God, that be­lieves and acknowledges that the Son of the liv­ing God is come, not only into that Humanity [Page 22]of Christ, that was born of the Virgin, but also that he is come into us, and dwells in us; accord­ing to these Scriptures, That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith: And Christ in you the Hope of Glory: And Know ye not that Christ is in you, except you be Reprobates, &c. Wherefore the Jesus Christ is come into his own Flesh, but also into theirs, which by this Means is made his; and that Christ is in them, of a Truth, and dwells in them.

For Anti-christ himself, and his Ministers, do all acknowledge, that Jesus Christ is come into that Flesh, which he did assume of the Virgin; but they will not confess, that this is true in him, and in us: They will acknowledge the Mystery of God manifested in the Flesh, as to Christ the Head, but they will deny it as to the Church his Body: And so, whilst they separate the Head from the Body, and the Body from the Head in this Mystery, they do solvere Jesum, they dissolve Jesus.

I say some hold, that the eternal Word, or divine Nature, came indeed into that Flesh which was born of the blessed Virgin, but they will by no Means allow it to come into ours, through our Union with him by Faith: Only they say, some created Habits, or Gifts of Grace come in­to us, or in our Flesh, but not Christ himself, or the divine Nature, or Son of the living God. And so these Men set up these created Gifts and Graces in the Members, instead of Christ him­self, the Head.

[Page 23] And yet these Teachers make a glorious Shew in the Flesh; and this is Anti-christ, viz. when Men think that these created Habits of Grace (which they fancy) will renew, comfort, sanc­tify and save them; and so do make to themselves of them, a glorious, but yet a false Christ.

Wherefore let us know, that he that denies Jesus Christ in the Members, is, though not so great, yet as true Anti-christ, as he that denies Jesus Christ in the Head: And he that denies Christ dwelling in our Hearts by Faith, to be, and to be alone, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanc­tification and Redemption to us, as he that de­nies him to be the Power, Wisdom, and Righ­teousness of God in himself.

The Sum of this Matter is this, that the true Spirits or Prophets do acknowledge, not only that Christ, the Son of the living God, is come into that Son of Man, which was born of the Bles­sed Virgin, but also that Christ is come into them, and dwells in them, as in his own true and proper Members.

And so, he that hath Jesus Christ dwelling in his Heart, is a true Prophet; and he that hath not Christ dwelling in his Heart, is a false Pro­phet, though his Knowledge and Religion be never so high, and glorious, and holy also in the Opinion of the World. And this is the chief Sign and Mark, whereby we may know the true Prophets and true Christians, from the false Pro­phets and false Christians.

Object. Now if any shall say, but how shall we know whether a Man hath Christ dwelling [Page 24]in his Heart or no? And so consequently, whe­ther he be a true or false Prophet?

Answ. I answer, you shall certainly know it, by the Truth of the Word of Christ in him, and by the Truth of the Life of Christ, in Reference to his Office in the Word.

1. First then, the true Prophets are to be dis­cerned from the false,

By the Truth of the Word of God in them.

For the true Prophets speak the true Word of God, even the Word of Wisdom, the Word of Righteousness, the Word of Life, the Word of Power, the Word that is able to save, which is the true Gospel Word. For this is the Covenant that God hath made with Christ and his Seed, saying, Isa. lix. 21. My Spirit which is upon thee, and my Word which is in thy Mouth, shall never de­part out of thy Mouth, nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed, nor out of the Mouth of thy Seeds Seed, from henceforth and for ever.

And this was perfectly fulfilled in Christ; for that Word, which in the Beginning was with God, and was God, was made Flesh in him, and dwelt in him; and out of that Word Jesus Christ spake all that ever he spake; his whole Doctrine did flow from that eternal Word which dwelt in him.

And Christ communicated to the Disciples the same Word which he had received, as he saith, John xvii. 8. I have given to them the Words that thou gavest me (that is, the word of Righteous­ness and Life) and they have received them, and have known surely, that I came out from thee, and [Page 25]they have believed that thou didst send me; and so that Word, which they themselves received by Faith, they also held forth to others, as John saith, I John i. 4. That which was from the Be­ginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our Eyes, which we have looked upon, and our Hands have handled, of the Word of Life, declare we unto you.

And to this also John the Baptist gives Testi­mony, John iii. 34. where he saith, He whom God hath sent speaketh the Words of God, not the Words of Men, or Angels, but of God; and this is true, both in Christ, and in his Seed.

But now the false Prophets speak not the Word of God, for they have it not in their Hearts; but what Word they have in their Hearts, that they speak; and so they speak the Words of their own Reason, Wisdom and Righteousness, or of other Mens, but beyond human Things they do not go, whether they pretend to high Notions on the one Hand, or to sound orthodox Doctrine on the other Hand.

Now of this true Christians are to take spe­cial Notice; because, as the true Word of God is the greatest Commodity to the Church that can be, and brings the Presence of Christ, and all the Things of Christ along with it; so the Word of Man is the greatest Mischief to the Church that can be; for it brings Anti-christ, and his Kingdom, and all his Things along with it. And thus doth vain Philosophy, and School Di­vinity (which is an unlawful mixing of Philosophy with the outward Letter of the Word) pervert [Page 26]all Things in the Church of carnal and false Christians.

2. As the true Prophets speak the true Word of God, so also they speak it by the true Spirit of God, and not by their own Spirit: And thus did Christ, who saith of himself, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel, and so he spake the Word of God by the Spirit of God.

And Christ commanded his Disciples to stay at Jerusalem till they had received the Spirit, and then to go forth and preach; because he knew they could not preach God's Word aright, without God's Spirit; and also Christ saith of all the Faithful, that it is not they that speak, but the Spi­rit of their Father that speaks in them; year, and the whole Gospel is called, the Ministration of the Spirit.

Now the true Prophets, speaking the Word of God by and in his Spirit, do also speak it in the right Sense, and after the true Mind of Christ, as Paul saith of himself, and of other Believers who had received the Spirit, We have the Mind of Christ.

But the false Prophets, though they speak the Word of the Letter exactly, and that according­ly to the very Original, and Curiosity of Criticisms, yet speaking it without the Spirit, they are false Prophets before God and his true Church; seeing all right Prophecy hath proceeded from the Spirit in all Ages of the World, but especia­lly it must so proceed in the Days of the New-Testament, wherein God hath promised the larg­est Effusion of his Spirit.

[Page 27] And they, speaking the Word of the Letter without the Spirit, do wholly mistake the Mind of Christ in all, and under the outward Letter of the Word of God do only bring in the Mind of Man. And this is one of the greatest Delusions, and most mischievous Snares that can be laid in the Church, to bring in the Word of Christ without the Mind of Christ, yea, to bring in the Word of Christ, against the Mind of Christ, and according to the Mind of Anti-christ: This is the effectual Operation of Error, whereby all Hypocrites and false Christians are deceived, and that without all Hope of Recovery.

And thus you see, that the true Prophets bring the true Word, and bring it also by the true Spi­rit, and this manifests them to be of God; but the false, either bring not the true Word, or if they bring the Word in the Letter, yet they bring it without the Spirit, and thus it is manifest, they are not of God.

Object. But some will object here; if a Man preach the Word in the Letter, even good, sound and orthodox Doctrine, no Doubt but such a Man is to be heard, and he may do much Good in the Church, though he wants Christ's Spirit: This I have heard from very many, who have though they have said something,

Answ. But to this I answer, That they who want Christ's Spirit, which is the Spirit of Pro­phecy, though they preach the exact Letter of the Word, yet are false Prophets, and not to be heard by the Sheep.

[Page 28] 1. Because, under the New-Testament, we are not to regard the Letter without the Spirit, but the Spirit as well as the Letter; yea, the Spirit more than the Letter: And therefore Paul saith, that Christ shall destroy Anti-christ with the Spi­rit of his Mouth, and the Brightness of his coming: He scarce takes any Notice of the Letter, but calls the true Preaching of the Gospel, the Spi­rit of Christ's Mouth, or the Ministration of the Spirit. And therefore the spiritual People can­not join to that Ministry, where the Spirit of Christ is wanting, though there be the outward Letter of the Word in it.

2. They that preach only the outward Letter of the Word without the true Spirit, they make all Things outward in the Church, and so carry the People, with whom they prevail, only to outward Things, to an outward Word, to out­ward Worship, outward Ordinances, outward Church, outward Government, &c. whereas, in the true Kingdom of Christ, all Things are inward and spiritual, and all the true Religion of Christ is written in the Soul and Spirit of Man, by the Spirit of God; and the Believer is the only Book, in which God himself writes his New-Testa­ment.

3. They who preach the outward Letter of the Word, though never so truly, without the Spirit, do (as hath been said) wholly mistake the Mind of Christ in the Word for want of the Spirit, which is the only true and infallible Inter­preter of his Mind; and so under the outward Letter of the Word, preach their own Mind, [Page 29]and not Christ's Mind; and do make all the Scriptures serve their own Turns, even their own wordly Ends and Advantages, and nothing else.

4. They that preach the outward Letter of the Word without the Spirit, can, with such a Word, both live themselves in all the inward Evils of corrupted Nature, and allow others to do so too. And thus the Gospel, which, in the Spirit of it, is the Judgment of Sin, is made, in the Letter of it, the Covering for Sin, and the Encourager of it; seeing such Men, who have the Letter of the Word in their Mouth, do live, in the inward Corruptions of their Hearts, more securely and quietly than other Men.

5. Last of all, let us know, that whoever doth agree with Christ never so exactly in the Letter, and yet differs from him in Spirit, is a very Anti-christ. And therefore, when the De­vils in him that was possessed said to Christ, We know thee who thou art, the holy One of God, and so agreed very exactly with the Gospel in the Letter, yet Christ forbad them to speak, because they spake not by a right Spirit. And Christ hath said, Whoever is not with me (that is, in the Spirit) is against me, though he have the same outward Letter of the Word with him.

And so, as Christ builds up his Church by his Spirit through his Word; so Anti-christ builds up his Church by the Word without the Spirit: And Christ's Church and Anti-christ's do often differ very little or nothing in Word or Letter, yet do always infinitely differ in Spirit.

[Page 30] Wherefore to conclude, let us know, that that Church that hath the Word, if it wants the Spirit, is Anti-christ's Church; and that that Mi­nistry that useth the Word, and wants the Spirit, is Anti-christ's Ministry; and that all Works, Duties, Prayings, Preaching, Fasting, Thanks­giving, &c. without Christ's Spirit, are nothing but the very Kingdom of Anti-christ, and the Abomination of Desolation.

And so I proceed to the second general Rule of Trial, which I propounded, whereby we may discern the true Prophets of Christ from the false Prophets of Anti-christ, and that is,

By the Truth of the Life of Christ, in Reference to his Office in the Word.

And here I shall give you many Trials, how you may certainly know and discern the false Pro­phets of Anti-christ from the true, humble, and faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ.

And the Lord Jesus Christ, before whom we are all present this Day, and before whose Tri­bunal we shall all be judged, he knows, that I shall not purposely speak any Thing at this Time, either to please myself, or to displease you; but I shall desire to speak all out of very Faithfulness to him, who hath remembered me when I was in low Condition, for his Mercy endureth for ever.